PEF-1, AN EPITHELIAL-CELL TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR WHICH ACTIVATES THE LONG CONTROL REGION OF HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16, IS GLYCOSYLATED WITH N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE

Infection by human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) has been linked to cervical cancer. The transcription of viral genes in HPV-16 is partial ly controlled by a number of cellular transcription factors. We have p reviously identified a novel cellular transcription factor, PEF-1, fro m its ability to interact with the long control region (LCR) of HPV-16 . This factor has a molecular mass of about 110 kDa and binds to a GC- rich sequence in the section of the LCR responsible for cell type-spec ific transcription from viral DNA. The factor Sp1 has similar properti es and also interacts with the HPV-16 LCR. We show that PEF-1 and Sp1 are distinct transcription factors: they recognize different DNA seque nces, have different electrophoretic mobilities and different glycosyl ation patterns. Sp1 is O-glycosylated while PEF-1 appears to have a no vel type of glycosylation, as shown by the interaction with pokeweed l ectin and by the inhibition of this interaction by tunicamycin.